Mining machine



J. F. JOY

MINING MACHINE Original Fi-led May' 20, 1937 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. F. JOY

MINING MACHINE Aug. 4, 1942;

- 10 SheetsSheet 2 Original Filed May 20, 1937 ZZZ/by.

J. F. JOY

MINING MACHINE Aug 4, 1942,

' 1o Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed May :20, 1937 fizvenfizfid'aphFfog. AW"! J. F. JOY

MINING MACHINE Aug. 4, 1942.

Original Filed May 20, 1'95? 1o Shets-Sheet 4- III Aug. 4, 1942. J. F. JOY 2,291,633

' MINING MACHINE .Original Filed May 20, 1937 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 l lli l 150 I h I] 161 Ill ' Qi'farmy.

Ailg. 4, 1942. I J. JOY 2,291,633

' MINING MACHINE Original Filed May 20, 1937 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 llp w, A 22, M6

Aug. 4, 1942. F, JOY 2,291,633

' MINING MACHINE Original Filed May 20, 1937 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 m 157 m 12. M 131 93 5 138 157 HH n mmvrox. 'fisephFfi y. *BY

ATTORNEY Aug. 4, 1942. J. F. JOY I 2,291,633 MINING MAGHINE' Original Filed May 20, L937 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 I Ml!" I N V EN TOR. Joseph Jb y.

Aw; 4- m- ATTORNEY.

- J. F. JOY

Aug. 4, 1942 MINING MACHINE Original F iled Mai; 20, 1.937 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 Y INVENTOR. JZd'ephEJb 'g. 4

Y B Aalm A TTORNEY.

Aug. 4, 1942. JOY 2,291,633

MINING MACHINE Original Filgd May 20, 1937 10 Sheets-She et 10 a tiarzzqy Patented Aug. 4, 1942 MINING MACHINE Joseph F. Joy, Franklin, Pa... asslgnor to Sullivan Machinery Company, a corporation of Massachusetts Continuation of application Serial No. 143,810,

May 20, 1937. This application Serial No. 336,485

17 Claims.

This invention relates to mining machines, and more particularly to improvements in a coal mining machine of the combined cutting and loading, longwall type for cutting the solid coal, dislodging the cut coal from the solid and loading the dislodged coal.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved coal mining machine embodying cutting and dislodging means for completely removing the solid coal from a coal seam wholly without the use of explosives or other blasting means. Another object is to provide an improved coal mining machin of the combined cutting and loading type forcutting the solid coal in a coal seam, dislodging the cut coal from the solid and loading the dislodged coal. A further object is to provide an improved coal mining machine of the combined cutting and loading type particularly designed for use in accordance with the longwali system of mining, Yet another object is to provide an improved coal mining machine of the longwall, floor cutter type having improved 'means for cutting and dislodging the coal and for conveying the dislodged coal away from the coal face. Yet another object is to provide an improved coal cutting and loading machine having improved conveying means associated with the cutting and dislodging means in an improved manner. Another object is to provide an improved mechanism for adjusting and feeding the cutting and dislodging mechanism with respect to the coal face, and improved means for driving the cutting and dislodging mechanism and the adjusting and feeding mean therefor. Yet another object is to provide an improved elevating mechanism for the cutting mechanism whereby the coal may be cut at different elevations with respect to the mine floor, and having embodied therein improved means for operating the cutting mechanism to dislodge the coal in an improved manner. A further object is to provide an improved mining machine of the above character having novel combinations and ar-' May 21, 1940,

chine constructed in accordance with the mustrative embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the mining machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in longitudinal vertical section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view with parts shown in plan, taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig, 5

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view taken on line l0l0 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially on line ll-H of Fig. 1.

Fig. 12 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on1inel2l2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on line l3l3 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line H -ll of Figs. 2 and 18.

Fig. 15 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line l5l 5 of Fig. 14. i

Fig. 16 is a cross sectional view taken substan- Y tially on line Iii-l6 of Figs. 1 and 14.

Fig. lis a top plan view of a coal mining 'ma- Fig. 17 is a detail vertical sectional view taken substantially on line ll+l1 of Fig. 14.

Fig, 18 is a view in longitudinal vertical sec tion with parts in elevation, taken substantially on line l8-l8 of Figs. 1 and 14. v

Fig. 19 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line l9l9 of Fig. 17.

Fi 20 is adetail vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 2020 of Fig. 19.

Fig. 21 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on line 2 l-2I of Fig. 20.

Fig; 22 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken substantially onv line 22-22 of Fig. 23.

Fig. 23 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on line 23-43 of Fig. 22. ,v

Fig. 24 is a detail view in longitudinal vertical section taken on line 24-24 of Fig. 22.

Fig. 25 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the hydraulic fluid system and its associated control means.-

In this illustrative embodiment of the invention there is shown a coal mining machine of the combined cutting and loading, longwall type, mounted on its own bottom for sliding movement over the mine floor, although it will be evident that the machine, if desired, may be truck mounted or tractor tread mounted, and that various features of the invention may be embodied in mining machines of various other types. In this embodiment of the invention, cutting and dislodging mechanism associated with conveying means for cutting the solid coal, dislodging the cut coal from the solid and moving the dislodged coal toward the receiving portion of the conveying means, the conveying means receiving the dislodged coal and moving the latter away from the coal face toward an elevated discharge position.

In this illustrative embodiment of the invention, the reference character I generally designates the cutting and dislodging mechanism, 2

the associated conveying means and 3 thefeeding means for the machine. The machine more specifically comprises a base frame 4, in the form of a bottom skid, adapted to rest upon and slide in any direction over the mine floor, and mounted for adjustment in a vertical direction relative to this bottom skid is a main frame 5, by which the cutting and dislodging mechanism I is supported. The bottom skid 6, as shown in Fig. 11, has vertical side walls 6, 6, and guided at the inner sides of these side walls are depending guide portions '7, 1 formed integral with the bottom of the main frame 5, and these vertical side walls 6 and the dependingguide portions l cooperate in the guiding of the main frame during adjustment of the latter in a vertical direction relative to the bottom skid. For adjusting the main frame in a vertical direction relative to the bottom skid, there is provided hydraulically operated elevating means comprising a pair of hydraulic jacks 3 and 9 arranged at the longitudinal vertical center or the machine, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. These hydraulic jacks each comprise, as shown in Fig. 16, a vertical cylinder iii secured to the bottom of the main frame and containing a piston it having its piston rod 92 secured to the skid bottom. When hydraulic pressure is supplied to the upper ends of the elevating cylinders, the latter are moved in a vertical direction relative to the pistons to effect elevating of the main frame together with the cutting and dislodging mechanism supported thereby, for a purpose to be later described. Arranged centraily longitudinally of the machine, between the hydraulic jacks, is guiding means, supplementing the vertical guides at the sides of the main frame and bottom skid. comprising cooperating vertical guide plates 5 and i6 arranged in overlapping sliding relation and respectively secured to the main frame and bettom skid. Means for supply hydraulic preslodging mechanism I, it will be observed that secured to the rear end of the main frame 5 is a rearwardly projecting support l1 having rearwardly projecting 'arms l8 supporting upper cylindrical bearing supports I8 and a lower bearing support 28. Supported by these bearing supports are bearing sleeves 2| and 22, respectively, on which are swivelly mounted circular bearing portions 23 and, respectively, formed integral with upper and lower hanger frames 2.5 and 25. These hanger frames' are swingable horizontally within their bearings relative to the main frame 5 of the machine and support at the rear end of the machine aseries of superimposed. parallel, horizontal cutting and dislodging bars respectively designated by the reference characters 21, 28, 28 and 30. The bottom bar 21 is rigidly secured to the lower hanger frame 28,

while a support 3|, interposed between the bars 28 and 28, is rigidly secured to the hanger frame 25. The bottom bar 28 and the support 3l' are rigidly connected together by spacing sleeves 32 and connecting bolts 33 extending centrally through the spacing sleeves, and these spacing sleeves may form vertical guides for the bar 28. Guided in guideways 34 formed about the margins of the superimposed bars are endless cutting and dislodging chains 35, herein of the reversible type. The driving means for these cutting and dislodging chains comprises a bevel gear 31 fixed to the rear end of the power shaft It of the motor l3 and meshing with a horizontal bevel gear 38 having its hub journaled on hearing sleeves supported by a vertical shaft 39 suitably journaled within the support if. Keyed to the upper end of this shaft is a clutch member connectible by a sliding jaw clutch id to a clutch member formed on the hub of the bevel gear 3-8. Keyed to the lower end of the shaft it; is a spur gear H meshing with an idler gear Q25 in turn meshing with and driving a large spur gear having its hub journaled in bearings supported by the upper bearing supports 5:? and keyed to a vertical drive shaft it. Journaled in bearings supported by the lower bearing support 26 and keyed to the shaft it is the hub of a chain sprocket 35, while journaled within the cutter bars 28, 29, 39 are the hubs of chain. sprockets d3, 57 and 618, respectively, and these chain sprockets engage and drive the cutting and dislodging chains 35. The sprockets 4? and are splined to the drive shaft and this spiined connection permits adjustment of the sprockets axially relative to the shaft es while the driving relation is always maintained, for a purpose to be later explained.

As the series of superimposed cutting and dislodging bars are swung horizontally about their pivotal axes, the cutting and dislodging chains cut a series of superimposed horizontal slots in the solid coal to form projections of coal between the slots, and the means for periodically breaking down fragments of the coal projections between the slots as cutting progresses comprises coal breaking wedges 50 secured to a chain block 5| of each chain. In the modification shown in Fig. '7, the coal breaking wedges are omitted from the chains, and the coal projections between the slots cut by the cutter chains are broken down by operating the bar-elevating jacks vertically to adjust the bars to cause the cutter chains to act laterally on the coal projections, as hereinafter mentioned. The reversible cutting and dislodging chains each comprise a series of chain blocks pivotally connected by strap links. and

each chain block has a lateral lug 52 formed with oppositely disposed sockets adapted selectively to receive a cutter bit 53. When the cutting and dislodging chains are driven in one direction, the bits are all disposed in the front sockets, and when it is desired to reverse the direction of the drive of the chains, the cutter bits-may be reversed within the lug sockets, in a well known manner. In this illustrative construction, the four superimposed cutting and dislodging chains on the bars are operative to out four parallel horizontal slots in the solid coal to form three parallel horizontal projections of coal between the slots, and as the cutters penetrate the coal a. certain depth,.the wedges on the chains act laterally on the coal projections to break down fragments of the latter.

In this improved construction, the cutting and dislodging bars are adjustable toward one another in parallelism to vary the distance between the cutters, and, as a result, to vary the thickness of the coal projections between the slots. This bar-adjusting means comprises hydraulic cylinders 55 supported by the lower cutter bar 21 and containing reciproca-ble pistons 56 having piston rods 51 projecting upwardly through the upper packed cylinder heads and rigidly fixed at their upper ends to the bar 28. Similar cylinders B and 59 are supported by the support 3| and the cutter bar 29, respectively, and contain pistons connected to the two upper bars 29 and It will thus be seen that when hydraulic pressure is supplied to the cylinders 55, 58 and 59, the bars 28, 29 and 30 may be adjusted toward and from one another and relative to the lower bar 26, thereby to vary the distance between the series of parallel cutters. The series of superimposed cutting and dislodging bars are flexibly connected together by means preventing relative tilting of the bars, so that the latter are always maintained in parallel relation, and this means comprises pairs of pivoted links 60 connected between bars 21, 2B, 29, 30 near the opposite ends thereof, and similar pairs of pivoted links 6| are connected near the opposite side edges of the bars, with their axes'of pivotal connection arranged at right angles to the axes of pivotal connection of the links 60. Arranged between the bars 28 and 29 are cooperating vertical guide plates 62 and 63 having overlapping guiding portions. and respectively secured to the bars 28 and 29. These hinged link connections and vertical guide plates for the series of bars always maintain the latter in parallel relation irrespective of their positions of relative adjustment. Each bar is provided with an adjusting screw 64 so that the outer ends of the bar may be adjusted relative to the mainbody thereof, to provide means for tightening the cutting and dislodging chains guided on the bars. The spaces between the bars at the outer ends thereof are closed by telescopically arranged closure membersfi5 and 6B, the former secured to the upper bars and the latter to the lower bars, and these members move with the bars during adjustment thereof, so that the spaces are always maintained closed irrespective of the relatively adjusted position of the bars. Similar closure means-may be provided between the bars along the length thereof, if desired. The links 6|, guide plates 62, 63 and the closure members cooperate to provide obstructions between the bars to preclude, the passage of the dislodged coal between the bars, thereby to insure proper delivery of the coal to the conveying means. A vertical deflector 61 has ver tically adjustable thereon, through a bolt and slot connection, a deflector portion 68, and. this deflector projects in the space between the cut-.

ting and dislodging-chains of the upper bars 29 and 30 for deflecting the coal from the paths of the chains as the coalis received by the conveying means. When the two upper bar's are relatively adjusted, the deflector portion 88 may also be adjusted, to accommodate the variation in width of the spaces between the upper parallel cutters, thereby to insure proper deflection of the dislodged coal. A similar deflector 69 rigidly fixed to the lower arm l8 of the bottom bearing support, projectsbetween the chains of the lower bars 21 and 28, and similarly deflects the dislodged coal from the paths of the chains. The frame portions IQ of the upper bearing supports project between the chains of the bars 28 and 29 for a similar purpose. The number of bars may be varied.

The conveying means 2 extends longitudinally of the machine beneath the main frame 5 and has its receiving portion disposed near the floor level adjacent the rear ends of the cutting and dislodging bars, for receiving the dislodged coal carried back from the coal face by the cutting and. dislodging chains and for moving the dislodged coal longitudinally through the bottom of the machine to discharge at an elevated position at the forward end thereof. This conveying means is herein of a well known type comprising longitudinally arrangedchannel members'fll, ll having their bottom flanges fixed to the bottom of the skid base and providing guideways 12 for an endless drive chain 13 of the conveyor. This drive chain comprises a series of articulated links connectedtogether by suitable pairs of horizontal and vertical pintles to render the same flexible in both horizontal and vertical planes and to permit the same to follow the contour of the conveyor guideways. It will be understood, however, that any other type of chain which is adapted to flex in horizontal and'vertical planes may be substituted for that above described without departure from the spirit of the invention. Secured to certain of the chain links are conveyor flights 14 adapted to move through parallel passages I5, 15 extending longitudinally through the bottom of the machine below the main frame, and these flights may be of 'the skid, and the conveyor guideways extend rearwardly along the bottom of the skid base upwardly along the inclined portion 11 and forwardly of the machine along the horizontal portion 16, and the rear end of the conveyor chain passes around a curved guide 18 connecting the ends of the channel guide members H, H. A similar curved guide member I9 is arranged at the rearward ends of the channel members 12 for guiding the receiving portion of the conveyor chain as it passes beneath the forward end of the main frame, and this guide is arranged closely to the skid bottom so that the conveyor flights pass across the rearward end of the skid base near the floor level to receive the broken coal moved rearwardly from the coal face by theportion of the conveyor.

- directions.

cutting and dislodging chains. Attachable to the front end of the main frame at either side thereof is an arcuate retaining plate 88 for retaining the coal in the path of the receiving The conveyor flights move the broken coal through the bottom of the machine, upwardly along the inclined portion."

, of the skid base and forwardly along the horizonany suitable type to convey the coal discharged from the conveyor of the machine laterally away from the coal face, and may be mounted on the machine or independently thereof, as desired. The driving means for the drive chain I8 of the conveyor of the conveying means 2 will later be described, and the conveyor 8| may be driven either from the machine motor or by an independent motor.

Now referring to the feeding means 3, it will be noted that arranged within a transverse horizontal chamber 82, extending across the forward portion of the main frame, are horizontal cable winding drums 83 and 84, respectively cooperating with feed cables 85 and 86. driven by the motor I3 for driving the cable winding drums in winding direction comprises a spur motor pinion 81 secured tothe forward end of the motor power shaft I4 and meshing with spur gears 88 and 89 having their hubs secured to coaxial shafts 90 suitably journaled within the main frame. These gears are connectible by disc clutches 9| to shafts 92 and 93 respectively. These shafts are alined with the shafts 98 and are arranged in parallel relation on horizontal axes extending longitudinally of the machine, in the manner shown in Fig. 14. Formed on the shaft 90 of the spur gear 89 is a spur gear 85 meshing with a spur gear 95 keyed to a horizontal, longitudinally extending shaft 96, herein arranged parallel with the shafts 92 and d3. Fixed to the shaft 95 is a spur gear t! meshing with a spur gear 98 arranged coaxially with the spur gear 89. The spur gear 98 meshes with an intermediate gear 95 in turn meshing with and driving a spur gear I arranged coaxially with the spur gear 88. These gears and shafts are suitablyrjournaled within the main frame 5, and

I formed integral with the shafts $32 and 93 are worms it! and 5&2 having teeth of the same pitch and inclination and meshing respectively with worm wheels H335 and i535 herein arranged on vertical axes parallel with the winding drum axes. Since the worm wheels mesh respectively with the opposite sides of the worms, the latter, as they rotate in the same direction, effect rotation of the worm wheels in relatively opposite As shown in Fig. 1.6, the hubs of the worm wheels are suitably journaled within bearings supported within the main frame, and journaled within the worm wheel hubs are vertical shafts I05, I05 having secured at their lower ends spur gears I0", I08 meshing with large internal gears I09, II ii formed integral with the upper flanges III of the cable winding. drums 83 and 85, respectively. The gears 88 and 89 con: stitute the high speed terminal gears of the high speed transmission, while the gears 88 and I00 constitute the low speed terminal gears of the low speed transmission, and the gears 98 and I 80. are connectible by disc clutches II2 to the shafts 92 and 83, respectively. The worm wheels I03 and I M are connectible by disc clutches H3 to the vertical shafts III! and I" respectively. Eccentric mounting means is provided for the cable winding drums for moving the internal gears on the latter into and out of mesh with the spur driving gears comprising, for each drum, as shown most clearly in Figs. and 21, a drum hub Ill .Ioumaled on an eccentric sleeve I ll in turn keyed to a bearing sleeve II8 rotatably mounted on a vertical shaft III. The means for rotating the eccentric sleeve to move the internal gear into and out of mesh with the drum driving gear comprisesgear teeth Ill formed on the upper end of the sleeve H8 and meshing with a spur gear I I8 formed on a vertlcaloperating shaft I28 provided with an operating lever I2I. It will thus be seen that when the lever is operated to rotate the shaft I20, the eccentric sleeve is rotated through the spur gears H9, H8, thereby The mechanism moving in one direction or the other the cable winding drum bodily in an arcuate path about the axis of the vertical shaft III to move the internal' gear into and out of mesh with the drum driving gear.

' The operating means for the disc clutches 8| and 2, as shown in Figs. 14 and 15, comprises shipper yokes I22 pivotally mounted at I23 within the main frame and engaging clutch applying rings I24 supported by ball thrust bearings I25 slidably mounted on sleeves I26, in turn supported on the shafts 82 and 83 respectively. The inner race of the thrust bearing I25 engages clutch applying members I21 and I28 for the clutches. Each of the shipper yokes has an upstanding projection I29 projecting within slots I30 formed in operating rods ESE, set. These operating rods are arranged in parallel relation on longitudinal axes within the upper portion of the main frame, and levers E32, E32 are pivotally mounted at 333 and have projecting arms I3 3 engaged in slots formed in the operating rods E's-E. It will thus be seen that when the levers are swung about their pivots, the rods are swung to swing the shipper yokes axially to move the clutch operating rings to move one or the other of the clutch operating members into clutch operating position. The operating means for the drum clutches M3 comprises shipper yokes I35 pivotally mounted at 36 and engaging clutch applying rings E37 connected through ball thrust bearings 38 to clutch applying members I39, the shipper yoires and lever portions Mi; being formed within bifurcated ends Mi connected to nuts 6 32 (Fig. 17). These nuts are threadedly engaged with vertical operating screws Hi3 suitably journaled within the main frame 5 and having keyed thereto bevel gears 24 i meshing with bevel gears H35 formed on horizontal operating shafts These shafts are suitably journaled within projecting bearing bosses E i-E integral with the main frame, and have fixed thereto operating handles M8, 689, respectively. It will thus be seen that when the operating handles are rotated, the nuts move axially, thereby swinging the shipper yokes vertically about their pivots, and, as a result, the clutch applying rings are moved axially into clutch applying position. As shown in Fig. 1, these clutch operating handles Mt, I89 for the drum clutches are conveniently located at the opposite sides of the forward end of the main frame so that the operator may readily control drum rotation.

Means is provided for guiding the feed cables 85 and 86 with respect to the cable winding drums, comprising horizontal guide sheaves I50 and HI arranged at the opposite front comers of. the main frame at the opposite sides of the cable winding drums, while arranged between these sheaves at the forward sides of the drums is a centrally located horizontal guide sheave I52. Arranged at the sides of the main frame at the rear sides of the cable winding drums are similar horizontal guide sheaves I53 and I54. The feed cables may be extended from the cable winding drums around these various guide sheaves in various manners as is well known by those skilled in the art.

Now referring to the driving means for the conveyor of the conveying means 2, it will be noted that formed integral with the shaft 92 is an alined shaft portion I55 (see Fig. 14) having keyed to its forward end a bevel gear I56 (Fig. 11) meshing with a bevel gear I51 clutched to a vertical drive shaft I58. This drive shaft is suitably joumaled within a housing I59 secured to the forward end of the main frame and has keyed thereto at its lower end a spur gear I60 meshing with a spur gear I6I keyed to a vertically disposed,- telescopic drive shaft I62. This vertical shaft is suitably journaled within bearings supported respectively by the housing I59 and the bottom of the skid base and is self-adjusting to compensate for the different elevated positions of adjustment of the main frame 5 with respect to the bottom skid. Keyed to and driven by the vertical shaft I62 is a sprocket I68 engaging and driving the endless drive chain 13 of the conveyor. It will thus be seen that when the disc clutch 9| is applied, the conveyor may be driven from the motor through the spur gearing 81, 88, clutch 9|, shaft 92, bevel gearing I56, I51, spur gearing I60 andIBI, telescopic shaft I62 and the drive sprocket I63. when the clutch 9i is released, the conveyor may, of course, remain idle during running of the motor.

Again referring to the cutting and dislodging mechanism, and more particularly to the sup-' porting structure therefor, it will be noted that the hanger frame s'upport- I1 is mounted on the main frame to rock relative thereto about a horizontal aXis extending longitudinally of the machine so that the cutting and dislodging bars may be tilted with respect to the horizontal, thereby to enable the cutting and dislodging mechanism to follow an uneven mine floor or rolling bottom. Secured to the rear end of the main frame at the rear end of the motor is a cylindrical bearing projection or bearing annulus I65 (Figs. 3 and 9) supporting a bearing sleeve on which is rotatably mounted a cylindrical bearing portion I66 integra-l with the support I1. Projecting laterally from the opposite sides of the support I1 are vertical arcuate flanges I61 guided within arcuate bearing elements I68 supported within guide brackets I69 secured to the opposite sides of the rear end of the main frame. It will thus be seen that the support I1 is mounted to rock about its bearing on the cylindrical bearing projection with respect to the main frame of the machine.

Means is afforded for tilting the support I1 by power, comprising, as shown most clearly in Fig.

" 8, vertical cylinders I10, I10 preferably formed integral with the guide brackets I69 and containing reciprocable pistons HI, "I. The bottom curved surfaces of these pistons engage lateral projections I12 extending from the sides of the support I1 and formed integral therewith. It will thus be seen that when hydraulic pressure is supplied to one or the other of the cylinders, the pistons may be moved to rock the support I1 within its bearing mounting relative to the main frame 5, and by trapping the liquid within tne cylinders, the support I1 may be locked in its adjusted position. The means for supplying hydraulic pressure to the support-rocking cylinders will later be described.

The means for swinging the series ofsuperimposed cutting and dislodging bars horizontally about their pivotal axes relative to the rear support and main frame comprises an arcuate cable guiding groove I18 formed on the upper hanger frame 23, and the cable 86 of the feed drum 84 may be extended around certain of the guide sheaves and in one direction or the other around this arcuate guide groove selectively to suitable attaching devices I14 arranged at the opposite sides of the hanger frame, and, when .the cable M 24, an eccentric I80 integral with the drive shaft 96, and engaging this eccentric is an eccentric strap I8I pivotally connected at I82 to a pump plunger I83. This pump plunger is reciprocably mounted. in a bore I84 of a pump cylinder I85 supported within a chamber I86 within the main frame. Communicating withthe lower end of the pump cylinder bore is an intake I81 controlled by an intake valve I88 of the springpressed ball type. Also 'communicatingwith the lower end of the pump cylinder bore is a discharge passage 'I89 controlled by a discharge valve I90 likewise of the ball type. The valve I90 I controlsthe flow of liquid under pressure from the discharge passage I89 to a passe-gr I9I communicating, as shown in Fig. 23, through a passage I92, with parallel horizontal valve be] es I93 formed in a valve box I94 herein plef 'rabh, formed integralwith the pump cylirwivr am: Iik wise arranged in the chamber I86. Guided in these valve bores are slide valves I95 and I96 herein of the balanced spool type, and ii": pas-- sage I92 communicates with the valve horns between the spools of the valves in the manner shown in Fig. 25. Communicating; wife the lower end of the pump cylinder bore is a by-pass passage I91 controlled by a valve I98 Fig. 22) and communicating through a passage I99 with the liquid chamber. In this instance, the slide valves I95 and I96 are operated by flexible operating shafts 260 guided in flexible conduits MI and having operating handles 202, while the by-pass valve I98 is operated by a flexible operating member 203 guided in a flexible conduit 204 and having an operating handle 205. The handles 202 and 205 are conveniently located at the front end of' tize main frame in adjacency to the' control handles for the feed drum control clutches, as shown in Fig. l. The pump intake communicates through a conduit 206 with the chamber I86 which herein contains a liquid, and

passages 201, 201 connected through a discharge conduit 208 back to the liquid chamber. The

valve bore containing the valve I95 is connected through conduits 299 and 2! to the upper ends of the rocking cylinders I19, while the valve bore containing the valve I98 is connected through a conduit 2 with the upper ends of the elevating cylinders I8. Arranged within a chamber 2| 2 formed in the main frame 5 at the side thereof opposite from the chamber I85 containing the pump and valve box I94 is a valve box 2I3 having vertical valve bores containing slide valves 2, 2I5 and 2I5 similar to the valves I95, I98

connected by a conduit 223 back to the liquid chamber I85. The valve bore containing the valve 2 is connected through a conduit 224 to the lower ends of the bar-adjusting cylinders 59 and through a conduit 225 to the upper ends of these cylinders. The valve bore containing the valve 2I5 is connected through a conduit 225 to the lower ends of the bar-adjusting cylinders 58 and through a conduit 221 to the upper ends of these cylinders, while the valve bore containing the valve 2Ii is connected through a conduit 228 to the lower ends of the bar-adjusting cylinders 55 and through a conduit 229 to the upper ends of these cylinders. It will thus be seen that by adjusting the valves I85 and I95 hydraulic pressure may be supplied either simultaneously or separately to the rocking cylinders I10 and simultaneously to the elevating cylinders I0, and by adjusting the valves 2 II, 2 I 5 and 2 I 8 hydraulic pressure may be supplied .to any one or any group of the bar-adjusting cylinders 55, 58 and 59 to either elevate or depress the bars.

The general mode of operation of the improved mining and loading machine is as follows: During maneuvering of the mining machine about the mine either one of the feed cables 85, 88 may have its free end connected to an extraneous abutment such as an anchor jack, and the high speed drive controlling disc clutch 9| may be applied to efiect rotation of the winding drum in winding direction to move the machine at a relatively high moving speed toward the anchor jack. If desired both feed cables may be employed to effect maneuvering of the machine simply by connecting the free ends of both feed cables to anchor jacks located in advance of the machine. When the machine is in proper operating position with respect to the coal face, the disc clutch 9| of the conveyor driving means may be applied to effect circulation of the conveyor, and by shifting the jaw clutch 50 the cutting and dislodging mechanism may be connected in driving relation with the driving motor to effect rapid circulation of the cutting and dislodging chains about their guideways on the bars.

$14, and when the drum is rotated to wind in the cable the series of superimposed bars are swung in unison about their pivotal axes from a position with the longitudinal axes of the bars alined with the longitudinal axis of the machine in Fig. 1.

to the right angle position shown in full lines The cutter bar hanger frames are then looked against swinging movement with respect to the support 11 by means of the locking'pin I15, and the feed cable is thereafter disconnected from the bar hanger'frame and extended around the inner guide, sheave longitudinally of the machine to a suitable anchor jack located at'the coal face in advance of the machine, and as the feed drum is rotated to wind in the feed cable the machine is fed bodily along the coal face in a direction parallel with the face to effect rectilinear, lateral feeding movement of the series of superimposed cutting and dislodging bars. As the bars are fed with respect to the coal, the series of superimposed cutting and dislodging chains act simultaneously to cut a series of superimposed horizontal slots in the solid coal to form' projections of coal between the slots, and as cutting progresses the coal breaking wedges on the chains periodically act on the coal projections to break down fragments thereof. cutting and dislodging chains move the dislodged coal toward the receiving portion of the conveyor, and the conveyor receives the coal and moves the same longitudinally beneath the machine to an elevated discharge position at the forward end of the machine, and the lateral conveyor 8| receives the discharged coal and moves the coal away from the coalface out of the path of the machine. draulic pressure to the bar-adjusting cylinders I 55, 58 and 59 the spaces between the superimfloor may be varied. when an uneven or rolling bottom is encountered, hydraulic pressure may be supplied to the rocking cylinders I19 to rock the support I1 about its axis with respect to the main frame of the machine, to tilt the series of superimposed bars with respect to the horizontal, and by trapping the liquid within these cylinders the bars and support may be locked in their adjusted position. During the'cutting, dislodging and loading operations above de scribed, if desired, the feed cable 85 may be extended from the feed drum 83 and in any suitable manner to a suitably located anchor jack, and the drum 83 may be rotated to wind in the cable to control the. angular position of the machine with respect to the coal face. When it is desired to operate the machine in the opposite direction with respect to the coal face, to out in the opposite direction, .or to operate the machine to cut at an oppositely located coal face, the motor I3 may be reversed, the cutter bits and wedges of the cutting and dislodging chains reversed with respect to their respective chain block lugs, the cables rewound in the opposite direction on the cable winding drums, and

the retaining member moved to the opposite side of the machine; and as a result, the machine may be fed and the cutting and dislodging chains and conveying means driven in the opposite direction. Under certain conditions, the coal breaking wedges on the cutting chains maybe omitted and the elevating cylinders I0 may be operated to vertically adjust the bars to cause the cutting chains to act laterally on the coal projections between the slots out thereby, to break down the coal, and, if desired, the

The rapidly moving By supplying hybar-adjusting cylinders 55, 58 and 59 may be similarly operated similarly to move the cutting chains to break down the coal projections. If extra clearance be desired to facilitate this mode of breaking, side bits may be used on the blocks as shown and described in my copending application Serial No. 143,809, now matured into Patent No. 2,210,919, patented August 13, 1940.

As a result of this invention it will be noted that an improved coal mining machine of the combined cutting, dislodging and loading, longwall type is provided having improved means for cutting the solid coal, dislodging the cut coal from the solid and moving the dislodged coal towardthe receiving portion of a conveying means by which the coal is moved away from the coal face to a suitable point of disposal. It will further be-evident that by the provision of improved adjusting and elevating means for the cutting and dislodging mechanism the machine is rendered extremely flexible in operation, as well as controllable with comparative ease, even under difiicult cutting conditions. It will still further be evident that by the arrangement of the parts in the manner disclosed, the machine is not only relatively flexible in operation, but is also extremely compact and rugged in design, well adapted to meet the demands of service in the mining of coal. Other uses and advantages of the improved mining machine will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

This application is a continuation of my application Serial No. 143,810, filed May 20, 1937.

While there are in this application specifically described one form and a modification which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form and the modification thereof are shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be further modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for advancing a longwall face by simultaneously freeing from the solid, reducing to handleable size and delivering to a desired point outside the face a band of coal of a height such that the machine body may operate on each succeeding cut in the space formed during the preceding traverse along the face, in combination, a narrow elongated body having a base and means for moving it in an endwise direction along a face in a path parallel with the latter, a circulating conveyor supported on said base and extending longitudinally of the latter along the bottom thereof and having an elevated delivery end at the forward end of themachine and a receiving end near the floor level adjacent the rear end of the machine, said conveyor ining means therefor having means for preventing escape of the loose co'al past said devices, said devices having driving means for circulating them in a direction to cause them to move coal freed by them outwardly from beneath the face at the forward side of said coal band removing means into the path of movement of the body toward said conveyor, and said supporting means for said devices guiding themas they emerge from within the coal closely adjacent the receiving end of said conveyor, said conveyor receiving the loose coal removed from the coal band by said coal removing means and conveying the loose coal forwardly lengthwise of said body through the bottom portion of said base, and the elevated delivery end of the conveyor discharging the loose coal into the path of body movement at the forward end of the machine.

2. A machine as defined in claim 1 in which the body includes a frame supported for adjustment into different elevated positions on said base and supporting said coal band removing means, and in which'means is provided extending between the base and said frame for elevating the latter relative to said base,'said frame elevating means including extensible elevating devices mounted on the bottom of said base within the orbit of circulatory movement of the conveyor flights.

3. In a machine for advancing a longwall face by simultaneously freeing from the solid, reducing to handleable size and delivering to a desired point outside the face a band of coal of a height such that the machine body may operate on each succeeding cut in the space formed during the preceding traverse along the face, in combination, a body having a base and means for moving it along a face, a circulating conveyor supported on said base along the bottom thereof and having an elevated delivery end at the forward end of the machine and a receiving end near the floor level adjacent the rear end of the machine, said conveyor including orbitally movable flights having means near the bottom of said base by which the flights are guided for movement with their outermost limits within the lateral boundaries of said base, means supportedby said body at the rearward end thereof for removing a band of coal of a height at least equal to the overall height of said body, said coal removing means including orbitally circulating cutting and breaking devices and-supporting means therefor having means for preventing escape of the loose coal past said devices, said devices having driving means for circulating them in a direction to cause them to move coal freed by them outwardly from beneath the face at the forward side of said coal band removing means, and said supporting means for said devices guiding them as they emerge from within the coal closely adjacent the receiving end of said conveyor, said conveyor receiving the loose coal removed from the coal band by said coal removing means and conveying the loose coal forwardly through the bottom portion of said base, and the elevated delivery end of the conveyor discharging the loose coal at the forward end of the machine, said machine body including a frame supported for adjustment into different elevated positions on said base and supporting said coal band removing means, said frame car rying a motor for actuating said coal band removing means and said conveyor, elevating means for positioning and supporting said frame at different elevations above said base, said motor having driving connections on said frame for said band removing means, and extensible driving connections for said conveyor operative in different elevated positions of said frame.

4. A machine as defined in claim 1 in which devices are provided for intercepting coal freed from the coal band and brought out by said coal band removing means and directing such freed coal into the orbit of circulatory movement of said conveyor. s

5. In a machine for advancing a longwall face by simultaneously freeing from the solid, reducing to handleable size and delivering to a desired point outside the face a band of coal of a height such that the machine body may operate on each succeeding cut in the space formed during the preceding traverse along the face, in combination, a body having a base and means for moving it along a face, a circulating conveyor supported on said base along the bottom thereof and having an elevated delivery end at the forward end of the machine and a receiving end near the floor level adjacent the rear end of the machine, said conveyor including orbitally movable flights having means near the bottom of said base by which the flights are guided for movement with their outermost limits within the lateral boundaries of said base, means supported by said body at the rearward end thereof for removing a band of coal of a height atleast equal to the overall height of said body, said coal removing means including orbitally circulating cutting and breaking devices and supporting means therefor having means for preventing escape of the loose coal past said devices, said devices having driving means for circulating them in a direction to cause them to move coal freed by them outwardly from beneath the face at the forward side of said coal band removing means, and said supporting means,

for said, devices guiding them as they emerge from within the coal closely adjacent the receiving end of said conveyor, said conveyor receiving Iofsaid base, and the elevated delivery end of the'conveyor discharging the loose coal at the forward end of the machine, said machine body including a. frame supported for adjustment into different elevated positions on said base and pivotally supporting said coal band removing means for swinging movement in generally horizontal planes and fortilting about an axis extending longitudinally of the base, said frame carrying a motor, means actuated by said motor to actuate said band removing means, and means actuated by said motor for actuating said conveyor, said conveyor-actuating means including extensible driving connections operatively connected to said conveyor irrespective of the elevated position of said frame.

said coal band removing means, said motor having 6. A machine as defined in claim -l, in which the band removing means includes orbitally movable 'cutter chain carried cutting devices for forming spaced narrow kerfs bounding projections of coal and in which said cutting devices have moving orbitallylwith them breaking devices effective to exert on each coal projection a breaking action at each side thereof, and in which said cutter chain carried cutting devices have supporting means provided with intermediate walls for precluding escape offreed coal past said band removing means within the space provided by the operation of the latter.

7. A machine as defined in claim 1, in which the bcdy carries a horizontal motor for driving i the coal to a substantial depth inside the coal its power shaft extending lengthwise of said body,

and in which the outermost lateral limits of the orbit of circulatory movement of the conveyor flights lie within the vertical projection of the sides of said motor.

8. In a machine for advancing a longwall face by simultaneously freeing from the solid, re-

ducing to handleable size and delivering to a desired point outside the face a band of coal of a height such that the machine body may operate on each succeeding cut in the space formed during the preceding'traverse along the face, in combination, a body having a base and means for moving it along a face, a circulating conveyor supported on said base along the bottom thereof and having an elevated delivery end at the forward end of the machine and a receiving end near the floor level adjacent the rear end of the machine, said conveyor including orbitally movable flights having means near the bottom of said base, by which the flights are guided for movement with their outermost limits within the lateral boundaries of said base, means supported by said body at the rearward end thereof for removing a band of coal of a height at-least equal to the overall height of said body, said coal removing means including orbitally circulating cutting and breaking devices and supporting means therefor having means for preventing escape of the loose coal past said devices, said devices having driving means for circulating them in a direction to cause them to move coal freed by them outwardly coal at the forward end of the machine, said machine body including a frame supported for adjustment into different elevated positions relative to said base and supporting said coal band removing means, said frame carrying a motor for actuating said coal band removing means and said conveyor, devices for elevating said frame-provided with a source of power by said motor, said elevating devices arranged at the bottom of said base within the orbit or circulatory movement of said conveyor, and conveyor driving means also-provided with a source of power by said motor including extensible driving connections also extending within the orbit of circulatory movement of said conveyor.

- 9.'A mining and loading machine comprising, in combination, a narrow elongated body having a bottom skid base slidable in an endwise direction over the mine floor along a path parallel to the coal face and an upper frame of substantially the same width as said base mounted on said base for adjustment into different elevated positions with respect thereto, cutting and dislodging mechanism pivotally mounted on said frame at one end thereof to swing horizontally relative to said body into a position projecting laterally from one side of said body, for cutting face and dislodging the cut coal, and a circulating conveyor extending longitudinally through the lower portion of said body between said base and said frame and having its receiving end disposed near the floor level in adjacency to said cutting and dislodging mechanism and its delivery end disposed in an elevated position at the end of said body remote from said cutting and dislodging mechanism, said conveyor having an endless conveying element movable in an orbit with its outermost lateral limits disposed entirely within the lateral limits of said body, said base having extending longitudinally centrally near the bottom thereof guides for said conveying element, said cutting and dislodging mechanism acting on the loose coal to move the same outwardly from beneath the face into the path of movement of said body toward said conveyor, and said conveyor receiving the loose coal-dislodged by said cutting and dislodging mechanism and moving the loose coal longitudinally through the lower portion of the body along one side of said base and moving the loose coal into an elevated position at the delivery end of the. conveyor to discharge into the path of body movement. g

10. A mining and loading machine comprising, in combination, a narrow elongated body having a bottom skid base slidable in an endwise direction over the mine floor along a path parallel to the coal face and an upper frame of substantially the same width as said base mounted on said base for adjustment into different elevated-positions with respect thereto, cutting and dislodging mechanism pivotally mounted on said frame at one end thereof to swing horizontally relative to said body into a position projecting laterally from one side of said body, for cutting the .coal

to substantial depth inside the coal face and dislodging the cut coal, a circulating conveyor extending longitudinally through the lower portion of said body between said base and said frame and having its receiving end disposed near the floor level in adjacency to said cutting and dislodging mechanism and its delivery end disposed in an elevated position at the end of said body remote from said cutting and dislodging mechanism, said conveyor having an endless conveying element movable in an orbit with its outermost lateral limits disposed entirely within the lateral limits of said body, said base having extending longitudinally centrally near the bottom thereof guides for said conveying element, said cutting and dislodging mechanism acting on the loose coal to move the same outwardly from beneath the face into the path of movement of said body toward said conveyor, and said conveyor receiving the loose coal dislodged :by said cutting and dislodging mechanism and moving the loose coal longitudinally through the lower portion of the body along one side of said base and moving the loose coal into an elevated position at the delivery end of the conveyor to discharge into the path of body movement, and a motor carried by said adjustable upper frame and extending swing horizontally relative to said body, for cutframe, and means driven by said motor for driv-- wise direction along a longwall coal face in aveying element movable in an orbit with its outermost lateral limits disposed entirely within the lateral limits of said body, said base having extending longitudinally centrally near the, bottom thereof guides for said conveying element, and said conveyor receiving the loose coal dislodged by said cutting and dislodging mechanism and moving the loose coal longitudinally through the lower portion of the body along one side of said base and moving'the loose coal into an elevated discharge position at the delivery end of the conveyor, a motor carried by said adjustable upper ing said conveyor irrespective of the elevated position of said upp r frame, said conveyor driving means including extensible driving connections extending within the orbit of said conveying element below the bottom of said upper frame.

12 A mining and loading machine comprising, in combination, a narrow elongated body having a bottom skid base slidable in an endwise direction over the mine floor along a path .parallel to the coal face and an upper frame of substantially the same width as said base mounted on said base for adjustment into different elevated positions with respect thereto, cutting and dislodging mechanism pivotally mounted on said frame at one end thereof to swing horizontally relative to said body into a position projecting laterally from one side of said body, for cutting the coal to a substantial depth inside the coal.

face and dislodging the cut coal, a circulating conveyor extending longitudinally through the lower portion of said body between said base and said frame and having its receiving end disposed near the floor level in adjacency to said cutting and dislodging mechanism, said conveyor having an endless conveying element movable in an orbit with its outermost lateral limits disposed entirely within the lateral limits of said body, saidbase having extending longitudinally centrally near the bottom thereof guides for said conveying element, said cutting and dislodging mechanism acting on the loose coal to move the'same outwardly'from beneath the coal face into thepath of the machine body towards said conveyor, and said conveyor receiving the loosepcoal dislodged by said cutting and dislodging mechanism and moving the loose coal longitudinally through the lower portion of the :body along one side of said base and moving the loose coal into an elevated position at the delivery end of the conveyor to discharge into the path of the machine body, and motor operated elevating means for said upper frame including extensible elevating devices mounted on said .base within the orbit of said conveying element and spaced longitudinally of said base between the latter and said upper frame.

13. In a mining and loading machine of the longwall type, a narrow elongated body of generally rectangular shape, slidable on its bottom on the floor of a mine and movable in an endpath in parallelism therewith, said body having a chamber extending longitudinally from end to end through the lower portion thereof, said body comprising a lower base frame and an upper frame of substantially the same width as said base frame, and said chamber being disposed between said frames, cutting and dislodging mechanism pivotally mounted on the upper frame of said body to swing horizontally relative to said body into a position projecting laterally from one side of said body, for cutting the coal in a coal seam to a substantial depth inside the coal face and dislodging the cut coal from the coal seam, a circulating conveyor extending lengthwise of said body through said chamber and having a conveying element movable in an orbit with its opposite runs extending along the opposite sides of said base frame within the lateral limits of said body, said conveyor having its receiving end disposed near the floor level in adjacency to said cutting and dislodging mechanism and its delivery end disposed in an elevated position at the end of said body remote from said cutting and dislodging mechanism, said cutting and dislodging mechanism acting on the loose coal to move the same outwardly from beneath the coal face into the path of the machine body towards said conveyor, and said conveyor receiving the loose coal and moving it longitudinally through said chamber to discharge in the machine path at the delivery end of said conveyor, supporting means on said base frame for supporting said upper frame on said base frame, said supporting means extending within the orbit of said conveying element, and guiding means for said conveying element extending longitudinally along the opposite sides of said supporting means, whereby the conveyor surrounds said supporting means.

14. In a mining and loading machine of the longwall typ a narrow elongated body of generally rectangular shape, slidable on its bottom on the floor of a mine and movable in an endwise direction along a longwall coal face in a path in parallelism therewith, said body having a chamber extending longitudinally from end to end through the lower portion thereof, said body comprising a lower base frame and an upper frame of substantially the same width as said base frame, and said chamber being disposed between said frames, cutting and dislodging mechanism pivotally mounted on the upper frame of said body to swing horizontally relative to said body into a position projecting laterally from one side of said body, for cutting the coal in a coal seam to a. substantial depth inside the coal face and dislodging the cut coal from the for supporting said upper frame on said base frame, said supporting means extending within the orbit of said conveying element, and guiding means for said conveying element extending 1ongitudinally along the opposite sides of said supporting means, whereby the conveyor surrounds said supporting means, said upper frame being adjustable in a vertical direction relative to said base frame to move said cutting and dislodging mechanism into different elevated positions with respect to said conveyor, and Baidsupporting means including elevating devices lying within the orbit of said conveying element for elevating said upper frame.

15. In a mining and loading apparatus, the combination comprising a support movable along a coal face in parallelism therewith and arranged in the relatively narrow space between the coal face and the line of the roof props, conveying means carried by said support and extending longitudinally along the bottom of said support, said conveying means having its receiving end disposed near the level of the mine floor at one end of said support, a frame mounted on said support above said conveying means for adjustment relative thereto into diiferent elevated positions, cutting and dislodging mechanism carried by said adiusta-ble frame for cutting the solid coal and dislodging the cut coal from the solid, said receiving end of said conveying means receiving the coal dislodged by said cutting and dislodging mechanism, means for elevating said coal seam, a circulating conveyor extendinglengthwise of said body through said chamber and having a conveying element movable in an orbit with its opposite runs extending along the opposite sides of said base frame within the lateral limits ofsaid body, said conveyor having its receiving end disposed near the floor level in adjacency to said cutting and dislodging mechanism and its delivery end disposed in an elevated position at the end of said body remote from said cutting and dislodging mechanism, said cutting and dislodging mechanism acting on the loose coal to move the same outwardly from beneath the coal face into the path of the machine body towards said conveyor, and said conveyor receiving the loose coal and moving it longitudinally through said chamber to discharge in the machine path at the delivery end of said frame as aforesaid relative to said support, a motor carried by said adjustable frame for driving said cutting and dislodging mechanism, and means driven by said motor for driving sai'd conveying means, said latter driving means including extensible driving connections for said conveying means operative in the different elevated positions of said frame.

16. In a mining and loading apparatus, the combination comprising a support movable along a coal face in parallelism therewith and arranged in the relatively narrow space between the coal face and the line of the roof props, conveying means carried by said support and extending longitudinally along the bottom of said support, said conveying means having its receiving end disposed near the level of the mine floor at one end of said support, a frame mounted on said support above said conveying means for adjustment relative thereto into different elevated positions, cutting and dislodging mechanism pivotally mounted on said adjustable frame for swinging movement in generally horizontal planes and for tilting about an axis extending longitudinally of said support, said cutting and dislodging mechanism cutting the solid coal and dislodging the cut coal from the solid, said receiving end of said conveying means receiving the coal dislodged by said cutting and dislodging mechanism and means for elevating said frame as aforesaid relative to said support, a motor carconveyor, supporting means on said base frame ried .by said adjustable frame for driving said cutting and dislodging mechanism, and means actuated by said motor for actuating said conveying means, said conveying-means-aetuatingmeans including extensible driving connections operatively connected to said conveying means irrespective of the elevated position of said frame.

17. In a mining and loading apparatus, the combination comprising a support movable along a coal face in parallelism therewith and arranged 

